Litigation

Resolve the dispute with a clear view of the options

ZL Attorneys represents individuals and businesses in civil and commercial disputes. Our work spans contracts, shareholders, insurance, employment, property and inheritance. Daniel Zahavi began practice in the Netherlands in 1996 and founded the firm in Curaçao in 2003; his practice includes negotiation and commercial litigation.

We first identify your objective, the evidence, deadlines and the practical value of a claim or defence. A negotiated solution may be appropriate. Where court action is needed, we explain the proposed procedure, likely work and costs.

What we handle

• Contract and commercial disputes.
• Corporate and shareholder disputes.
• Insurance coverage and claims.
• Liability and personal injury.
• Employment disputes.
• Inheritance and family matters.
• Asset attachment and enforcement.

Government decisions may instead require the administrative-law route. We check the forum and applicable procedure rather than treating all disputes alike.

Ordinary and urgent proceedings

Urgent civil proceedings, commonly called kort geding, may offer provisional relief where waiting for ordinary proceedings would be inappropriate. They are not a guaranteed two-week judgment or a final resolution of every disputed issue. The urgency, evidence, relief sought and court timetable determine the available approach.

The Joint Court's Curaçao page publishes the applicable civil procedural rules and court information. We assess urgent relief and the main dispute together, including whether a separate claim is needed.

Evidence, recovery and costs

A favourable judgment and successful recovery are different stages. Before proceedings, consider where the other party and its assets are located and how an order could be enforced. Foreign parties or assets may require advice in another jurisdiction.

We discuss legal fees and foreseeable third-party costs, such as court, bailiff, translation or expert costs, for the proposed work. The scope of any engagement and payment arrangement is agreed individually.

If you are outside Curaçao

Initial discussions and document preparation can often take place remotely. Whether you must attend a hearing or provide formal authority depends on the case and the court's directions. We assess this before you make travel arrangements.

Case examples

• Recovering Frozen Funds in the FCIB Litigation.
• Guarantee Judgment Upheld on Appeal.

Prepare for a first discussion

Keep contracts, messages, invoices, notices and court documents together. Prepare a timeline, the amount or interest at stake and the result you want. Preserve original evidence and flag any service date, hearing or deadline immediately.

Contact ZL Attorneys with a brief description and the names of the parties so that we can assess the proposed assistance and check for conflicts.